Laura Volkman Vineyards: “She clears the land and plants a vineyard”

Laura Volkman and her husband, Jim, bought a small farm several years ago in Newberg, Oregon. They
cleared the land and planted 3.5 acres of Pinot Noir (Elle Rêve Vineyard), primarily Dijon 115, with lesser
amounts of 114, 667, 777 and Pommard clones. Unlike most winemaking ventures where the husband is the
principal winegrower and winemaker, Laura is the driving force who makes all the winegrowing decisions
herself, performs practically all the physical work in the vineyard, makes and bottles the wines, and sells the
wines. For the most part, she won’t allow anyone else, even her husband, Jim, touch the vines. Jim says,
“She takes every bottle personally,” while she likens her passion to an author writing a great book who seeks a
sequestered location to focus on the job at hand. She says with emphasis, “I have blinders on from April until
the end of crush.” For a slight woman who weighs only a smidgen over 100 pounds, you have to admire her
gumption. Jim has his own profession, possesses the patience of a saint, and provides a helping hand and
support only if needed.

Laura developed her winemaking acumen through the Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem, Oregon, and was
mentored by Mike Etzel at Beaux Freres during the 2001 and 2002 crush. Here first wines were released from
the 2004 vintage. She realized early on that Pinot Noir was the one grape variety that could be brought to
perform brilliantly only through meticulous parenting in the vineyard and in the winery. This explains why some
of the world’s greatest Pinot Noirs come from very small producers who can personally nurse the frivolous
grape every step of the way. Her back label says, “Atop a windy hill in the Chehalem Mountains, she dreams
of a great vintage. The soil, the sun, nurturing the vines, harvesting at the peak of perfection, the fruit will make
the wine.”

Laura’s winemaking is traditional and all hands-on. Fermentations are kept cool because Laura believes this
preserves the delicate aromas of Pinot Noir. Different yeasts are used to create distinctive flavor profiles that
set apart her two major Pinot Noir bottlings, Rachel Estate and Jacob Estate. Absolutely no pumping is done.
Aging is carried out in roughly 50% new French oak barrels. Once the wine is ready, it goes directly to tank for
blending and then straight to bottle all through gravity flow. All of her Pinot Noirs are unfined and unfiltered.
She recommends that consumers wait a year after release to insure full integration of her Pinot Noirs.

The Laura Volkman Vineyards labels are quite striking and display artwork depicting Laura in her vineyard from
noted watercolor artist, Terry Peasley. Her three Pinot Noir bottlings are named after family members: St.
James Estate (spouse), Rachel Estate (daughter) and Jacob Estate (son). The Chardonnay, sourced from the
Celilo Vineyard located in the Columbia Gorge region of Washington, is named after the family dog, Bella.
Total production is tiny, less than 500 cases. The wines are sold through a mailing list and on the website at
www.volkmanvineyards.com. Tasting is available by appointment at the vineyard at 13000 N.E. Quarry Road
in Newberg (503-806-4047). The photo below shows Rachel, Bella and Jacob in their natural habitat.

I was very impressed by the 2006 vintage Laura Volkman wines and raved about them in previous issues of
the PinotFile. I have sampled the 2006 Pinot Noirs on numerous occasions with consistent results. While in
Oregon, I met with Laura at August Cellars (a cooperative winemaking facility, pictured below) located near her
vineyard where she crafts her wines. We tasted through her lineup of 2007 wines and barrel samples of
separate 2008 Pinot Noir clonal wines from new oak barrels (they will be blended with clonal wines from
neutral barrels when bottled). Yields were slightly decreased in 2008. The 2008 Pinot Noirs are darkly colored
due to prolonged end of summer heat. They have plenty of tannin that is good (astringent) rather than bad
(bitter) in type. Laura calls 2008 “a big, lush vintage with alcohols in the 13.5 range.” I thought Laura’s 2008
Pinot Noirs were spectacular and in line with other stellar 2008 wines I had tasted elsewhere in the Willamette
Valley on this visit. I came away from this tasting with continued respect for Laura’s winegrowing and
winemaking aptitude.

13.5% alc., 160 cases,
$20. Primarily neutral barrels used. Mainly press wine. A value-priced “stimulus” Pinot Noir.
·Light
in color and body but possessing appealing aromas and flavors of spice-marked red fruits. A very
easy drinking wine with gossamer tannins that charmed me with its yeast-induced spiciness. This is
a perfect every day aperitif or mealtime wine to buy by the case.

13.2% alc., 95 cases, $38.
Raised in 50% new French oak. This wine has been slow to open and was only released in May 2009.
Composed of 114, 667 and Pommard clones.
·Demure aromas of confected cherries and red raspberries,
brioche, hay and spice. Packed with deep red fruit flavors augmented with subtle oak and some earthiness.
Very silky and diaphanous. Ripe tannins enhance the structural integrity and the finish has a pleasing grip of
acidity. Still not at its apogee, but a very promising feminine-styled Pinot.

13.5% alc., 120
cases, $45. Clones 114, 115 and 777. Barrel aged on the lees in 50% new French
oak.
·Moderately light reddish-purple in color. More intensity and richness with more
tannins than the Rachel Estate. Not as plush or big-boned as the 2006 vintage but
plenty to like. Flamboyant scents of black cherries and black raspberries with hints of
oak and cigar box. Packed with dark berry and stone fruit flavors augmented nicely
with toasty oak. Hints of citrus peel, cola, root beer and spice add interest. Like all of
Laura Volkman wines, the finish has remarkable persistence. A more masculine
interpretation of the vineyard that is singing nicely now.

14.2% alc.,100
cases, $38 (sold out). Clones 114, 667 and Pommard. One yeast is used to create a
fruity profile and a second Burgundian yeast is used to produced a drier finish.
·Moderately deep reddish-purple color. Lovely aromas of black cherry jam and spice.
Very tasty and perfectly ripe black cherry and raspberry fruit with a faint citrus
underbelly. Hints of sandalwood, spice and earth add interest. A beautiful wine that
is rich, yet lively, with supple tannins, a velvety texture and bright acidity on a lengthy
finish. Still my favorite Laura Volkman wine.